“A New Dimension In Cultural Awareness” Phil Ranelin & Wendell Harrison :: “Tribe 2000” - Org Music - 10/18

The echoes of ancient sound spill through the metabolic meadow, as its roots absorb the elixir of tragedy, cosmic community and comedic relief. Its stalks are riddled with artistic arthritis and rich with civil contemplation that spreads across a broad landscape of forbidden legends. Where the summit clashes with the mighty nights embellished by idols and distorted kings of space and time. While eclectic elders grace paranoia with open arms, an almost unbreakable industry lurks within the darkness of profit and prophecy with snarling teeth both unbreakable and well-spoken. An alarming interest in revolution and planetary safety startles the conspiracy of transparency and reflection upon historical accuracy.

With incredible credits already stashed under their belts prior to their cosmic meeting in late 60s Detroit, Phil Ranelin (Trombone) and Wendell Harrison (Saxophone) met one another during a time in their lives and careers where the almighty burning star of creativity, productivity and success met them with a bout of questioning and healthy displacement in the world of music. While Harrison was teaching at Metro Art, where he led a government program that focused on youth’s involvement in the arts, Ranelin had just relocated to Motor City in search of work and a new creative community. At the time, Detroit was a city built on the great boom of the automotive industry, Motown, Lester Bangs’ and Creem Magazine and a new sound that was billowing from the depths of the town’s maddened subconscious with bands like MC5, The Stooges, SRC and countless others. But as legends go, these two young musicians, both thirsty and starved for creative pursuit, would soon shake the foundation of the jazz community by establishing Tribe Records, their very own label in the early 70s, and with a community of like-minded people, they soon set out on a sonic mission for change and liberation with a message for the ages.

“a new dimension in cultural awareness”

With the debut of their 1972 masterpiece “A Message From The Tribe”, it became pretty apparent as to what these guys were going for and the powerful language they wanted to speak and express with their work. With jazz having been such an incredible element for the human condition as well as a superior spiritual connection to the cosmic energies of the universe, both Ranelin and Harrison set the bar in the world of jazz and planetary politics. Exploring the depths of social justice and world peace, the duo released an exceptionally wonderful body of work that even extended into their solo careers with titles such as “The Time Is Now”, “Vibes From The Tribe” and the existential ecosystem of “An Evening With The Devil”, just to name a few. Over the decades, both musicians delved deep into their practice and have since built a radical empire through their label and movement that multiple generations can now sift through in order to locate their meaning and understanding of the world and the people in it.

Whether their reissuing long-lost masterpieces of sent to oblivion for an unfathomable number of reasons, or their working with artists that are on the contemporary grind fighting with tooth and nail, Org Music is a special label in that they give incredible artists a chance to shine for the first, or a chance to shine once again. That’s the case for this marvelous and groundbreaking piece from the Tribe archive entitled “Tribe 2000” that is set for release in mid-October. An introduction for some and a blissful homecoming for others, “Tribe 2000” is a concrete celebration of the label and its long-running mates, Marcus Belgrave (Trumpet), Harold McKinney (Piano), Ralphe Armstrong (Bass), George Davidson (Drums), Pamela Wise (Piano who and a few others, that helped to bring this album to life over two decades ago. With tracks such as “Third Encounter” and the album’s epic opener “He is The One We All Knew” shattering the mind’s eye and splintering the brain with gorgeous pockets of freedom music, Ranelin and Wendell truly established a liberation system for the brave, the working class and for the people.